Operating means for elevator doors



I, Dec. 29, 1931. H. w. SHONNARD OPERATING MEANS FOR ELEVATOR DOORS Filed Sept. 27, 1926 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 29, 1931. w SHQNNARD 1,838,876

OPERATING MEANS FOR ELEVATOR DOORS Filed Sept. 27, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 an'uewtoz Dec. 29, 1931- H. w. SHONNARD 1,838,875

OPERATING MEANS FOR ELEVATOR DOORS Filed Sept. 27, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l i r 4/ an e to M0 7;, M2;

Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES HAROLD W. SHONN'ARD, 0F IVION'ICLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ELEVATOR SUP- PA-TENT OFFICE I PLIE S'COMPANY, A CORPORATION OFJYI'ERTv JERSEY j OPERATING MEANS FOR ELEVATOR DOOR-Sr.

Application filed $eptember 27, 1926. Serial 110.13%,539.

The present invention relates to an improved form of solenoid operated cam of the type-commonly used on elevators for oper- --ation of the doors at the various floors.

5 One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device of the character named having relatively few parts, easily assembled and kept in order, and so constructed and arranged as to be at all times reliable in operation. a

Another object of this invention is provision of a valve operating cam of the general character described so constructedas to be normally moved into operative position by mechanical or electro-mechanical means in such a manner as to be retarded during. the latter part of the said movement; 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character named which can be easily operated by hand or foot power in caseany accident should interfere with normal operation by means of the solenoid. The invention is illustrated in a preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein broad invention, however, is not limited to actuating means of this character.

In the drawings herein, the usual valve operating cam is shown at 10, carried directslide easily within the sleeve 12. f

The moving parts of my device are carried by a supporting casing 18, which preferably takes the form of a casting so formed as to provide an oil chamber 14, and a guide 15 forthe sleeve 12.

The supporting casing 13 also carries the bearing 16 for the stub shaft 17, upon which shaft is fixed the gear 18. The sleeve 12 is Figure 1 is a view of my improved device ly upon the end of a rod 11, which is fitted to providedwith teeth19 forming a rackwith.

which the gear 18 engages.

The supporting casing is also formed to provide abearing 20, into which'there fits a tube 21' closed at. its two ends by plugs" 22 i if and 23, and within which there slides a core of. soft iron or steel v24provided with teeth 25 forming a rack which also engages with the teeth of the gear 18. f To permit of this engagement, the tube 21 has an opening 26 A second opening 27 in saidtube communicatesiwith the bottom of the oil chamber 14.

The core 24 has'a central bore 28 with a branch opening 29 communicating. with the opposite end'has a valve'seat for a ball valve 30, which is prevented from falling out by .the pin 31..:

One end of the tube21 and magnetic core 24 is surrounded by a solenoid core 32 which may be energized from. a switch in the elevator car in a well known manner through V a the wires 33, 34.

The. core 24, in'addition to the bore 28 is provided with a supplemental bore 35, hav

ing a branch 36 communicating with the oil chamber 14 above the core 24 between two to the cam 10. The opposite end of this'rod 38 carries a nut .39, and between the e ten-' "sion 37 and nut 39 is a spiral spring 40, surrounding the rod 38, and tending always to bring the cam 10 back into the inoperative position shown inv Figure 1.

In ordinary normal operation, when a floor is approached at which the elevator cage is to stop, the solenoid 32 is energized. This draws the magnetic core 24 to the left in Figure 1, revolving the gear 18, which pushes the toothed sleeve 12 to the right, and with it .the rodll and cam 10. 1

During the first part of this movement the oil. or other liquid which occupies the oil left hand end of the tube 21 through the openings 35 and 36, although the ball valve 30 prevents the oil from passing through the bore 28.

In consequence the parts actuated by the solenoid move promptly and rapidly when started. In order to prevent slamming with consequent disagreeable noise and Wear, the movement of the cam outward is considerably retarded at the end of the travel. This retardation results from passage ofthe opening 36 into the closed portion of the tube 21, as the core 24 moves to the left. When this occurs, oil can no longer pass through the openings 35, 36, but must move slowly through the small space left under the core 24', as plainly shown in Figure 2.

Toreturn the cam tothe inoperative position shown in Figure I, the solenoid is deenergized, and the spring on the rod 38 is free to draw the cam 10 to the left, thus reversingthemovements of all the parts and restoring the positionshown in the drawings.

.During this return movement, the ball valve 30 will be open and flow of oil will be 'free, thus leaving the action unretarded.

In case of failure of the solenoid to act through absence of electric current or other cause, it is desirable to provide emergency operating means which can be actuated directly by the person in charge of the elevator. For this purpose I' prefer to provide a twoarmed pressure lever 41, 42 mounted revolubly on a stub shaft 43 carried by the supporting casing. At the outer extremity of the longer of the two arms, 41, there is carried a stub shaft 44 which projects under orbehind' the cam 10 as shown in Figure 3. On the end of this shaft there is mounted a revoluble roller 45', which can be pushed against the back of the cam 10 by tilting the lever 41, 42, on its pivotal support.

A tension rod 46 is pivotally attached to the outer extremity of the lever arm 42; and. y, a spring 47' having one end attached to the spring 47 will return the lever arms 41, 42

and roller 45 to inoperative position, thus permitting the spring 40 to bring the cam back to the idle position shown in Figure 1.

It will thus be seen that manual (or pedal) operation of the cam 10 can be accomplished without moving any of the mechanical elements employed for normal electronnagnetic operationQ Manual operation is thus free from any retarding action of the oil, and, moreover, if failure of normal operation has been due to sticking or breakage of any of said mechanical members, their disability cannot interfere with free manual operation.

Numerous changes may be made in the construction of this device without departing from the scope of my invention, which is not limited to the details herein shown and described.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, a movable cam, mechanism for normal operation thereof and means for emergency operation thereof adapted'to operate the cam while said normal operating mechanism is at rest.

2 In a device of the class described a movable cam, mechanism for normal operation thereof comprising a carrying member, mounting means for the cam carried by said member and adapted to move freely thereon, and means for emergency operation of the cam independent of the normal operating means.

In a device of "he class described, camoperating. mechanism comprising a sleeve adapted to reciprocate, a rod adapted to move in and out of said sleeve and a cam mounted onsaid rod.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in combination with a spring adapted to press the rod into the sleeve.

5. In a device of the class dcscribetha'cam mounted for reciprocating movement, a tilt able two-armed lever mounted near the same,

a rollercarried by one of said arms and adapted to press against the cam, and a spring tending to hold the roller away from the cam.

6. In a device oft-he class described, a supporting casi'nghaving an oil chamber, a sole noid, and a reciprocating magnetic core movingthrough said chamber and having an oil passage therein adapted to be closed when the core is between its two extremes of normal movement.

'7. In a device of the class described. a supporting casing having an oil'chamber, a sole noid,,a' reciprocat ng magnetic core moving through said chamber and having a long tudinal passage and a transverse passage CO}?- nectingthe same with the oil chamber, and an automatic valve in said longitudinal passage.

8. In a device of the class described, two reciprocating racks, a gear engaging both racks, a cam mountedon one of said racks and motivating means adapted to actuate the other rack.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein one of the racks has the form of a sleeve, and wherein the cam is provided with a rod fitting said sleeve so as to be slidable therein.

10. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein one of the "racks is a" magnetic core and wherein a solenoidis provided adapted to act upon said core to reciprocate the'same.

11. In a device of the class described, a supporting casing having an oil chamber, and a reciprocating rod moving through said chamher and having a longitudinal oil passage therein having a lateral opening adapted to be closed to check the movement of said rod when the rod is between its two extremes of normal movement and substantially before it reaches its limit of movement.

12. In a device of the class described, a cam and means for pro ecting sald cam into and out of operatlve position, said means comprising a sliding part fixed to said cam, a second sliding part movable independently of said cam, and a motor for driving said second sliding part to project said-cam.

13. In a device of the class described, a cam and means for projecting said caminto. and out of operative position, said-means comprising a sliding part fixed to said cam, a second sliding part movable independently of said cam, and a motor for driving said second sliding part to project sald cam, said motor comprising a solenoid and a rod of magnetic material adapted to be reciprocated by the electro-magnet action of said solenoid; a gear connection between said rod and said second named sliding part, and a spring actingon said cam to retract the same, and also acting on said rod through said second named sliding part and gear connection, to retract the rod when said solenoid is de-energized.

14. Ina device of the class described, a cam and means for projecting said cam into and out of operative position, said means comprising a sliding part fixed to'said cam, a second sliding part movable independently of said cam, and a motor for driving said second sliding part to project said cam, and a second means for projecting said cam, said independent sliding movement between said cam and said second-named sliding part per- I mitting the projection of said cam said second means Without actuation of said mot-or actuated means for projecting sald cam.

In testimony whereof I have hereto aifixed my signature on this 25th day of September,

1926. i n. w; SHONNARD. 

